Alexander, who won a third term, received 1,071 votes, 50.5 percent, while Stewart received 1,050 votes, 49.5 percent.

Alexander attributed the win to "a lot of hard work and
honest government."

"We've had no problems in Irondale with scandals or
anything," Alexander said. "It's just been an honest government, an open
government."

Alexander, 69, said this will be his last term. He said he
and his wife made that decision together.

Stewart was asked how tough it was to lose an election by
such a narrow margin, 21 votes.

"You lose a race that close you can begin to think about
some of your friends who said they were going to show up that didn't show up,"
Stewart said.

Stewart said he did not know if he would run for office
again, but said he would stay involved in the city of Irondale. Stewart said he
campaigned on a platform of change and progress.

"I just really wanted more for Irondale," Stewart said.

In Irondale's only City Council runoff, John London defeated Keith Andrews in the race in Council District 1. London received 318 votes, 56.9 percent, while Andrews received 241 votes, 43.1 percent.

In the mayor's race on Aug. 28, Stewart, a city councilor since 2007, had led the vote tally with 520 votes, 29 percent, while Alexander had 506, 28 percent, of the 1,817 votes cast. Two other candidates for mayor failed to make the runoff.

In the council race on Aug. 28, London had 186 votes to 152 votes for Andrews.